Just Passing Through
Here the Alter Rebbe explains that life on Earth in a material body is a temporary thing. The main purpose of the soul is to be united with the Infinite. Source: Likkutei Torah, Parshas Chukas, D.H. Oz Yoshir Yisroel.
Iggeres HaT’shuva: Chapter Nine, Tammuz 25, 5775
Here the Alter Rebbe explains that higher level t’shuva (t’shuva ilaa) is a result of fixing things at their root. For example: the sin associated with young men “nicks” the mind, the correction and the t’shuva is to become engrossed in learning Torah (which comes from Chochma of Aztilus) and to double the quantity. Like kissing, where the breath of one united with the other, when we learn, our minds think G-d’s thoughts, our mouths speak G-d’s words etc. The…
Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter Eight, Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Menachem Ov, Tammuz 24, 5775
Previously, the Alter Rebbe explained to us how t’shuva tattoh (lower level t’shuva) is done. Now that the t’shuva tattoh is done and the clouds have been cleared,” we can engage in t’shuva i’la’ah (higher level t’shuva). This happens through becoming emotionally engaged in learning Torah, which is a woundrous union between G-d and Jew. The this emotional state during intimacy with G-d is a result of binah (analysis and contemplation) and is also results in the return of the…
Fear (Yir’a)
Fear means simply: “to be afraid of rebelling against the King.” That is a quote from the beginning of Tanya chapter 41. This definition includes the most primitive fear (fear of punishment, yiras onesh) and the most advanced fear (fear with bashfulness, y’rei boshes). Fear in chassidus is a result of love inasmuch as one is afraid to lose what one has, i.e., we don’t want to lose our positive relationship with G-d or a friend or spouse, for that…
Lower Fear (Yira Tattoh, Yira Chitzonis)
Lower level fear is defined by the Alter Rebbe in the introduction to Tikkun Chatzos in his siddur as follows: Yira chitzonis is a result of being afraid as one would be in the presence of a physical king, who, because of the extent of his sovereignty, inspires fear. As a result of his malchus, sovereignty, on fears, i.e., it is primitive, perhaps immature. The same applies to G-d. The lower fear would be as a result of thinking about…
Higher/ Internal Fear (Yira Ilaa, Yirei Boshes, Yira Pnimis)
In the Alter Rebbe’s siddur, Torah Ohr, in his introduction to Tikkun Chatzos, defines yirei boshes as follows: Yirei boshes is for example, the internal feeling of shame one feels in the presence of a great man in one’s generation, a tzaddik, etc. The fear is from motivated from within himself: this is called yira ilaa, to become shy in the presence of the Light of the Endless One Boruch Hu, who integrates Himself into the Chochma of Atzilus… before…
Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter 7, Tammuz 22, 5775
So imagine you never did any aveira worthy of death from beis din or being cut-off…The little things we ignore in our relationship to Hashem add up. The little fibers of the 613 strand rope connecting us with G-d become severed weakening the experience. Realizing that we have distanced ourselves from Hashem will motivate to move forward.
Iggeres HaT’shuva: Chapter Five, Tammuz 17, 5775
In the previous chapter, the Alter Rebbe explained to us that all of life receives its life from Hashem’s speech (more externally, the latter hei in Havaye), as opposed to us who receive life from Hashem’s breath (from a deeper place, the thorn on the yud). Today the Alter Rebbe explains how koreis (being cut off) works: how could anything separate us from Hashem? The answer, he explains is based on a few pessukim: 1. “He breathed into his nostrils the soul of…
Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter Four, Tammuz 16, 5775
So far the Alter Rebbe explained how Hashem has 10 faculties (sfiros) which He chose to create and manage all of existence. The Alter Rebbe also explained how these 10 faculties (sfiros) are manifest in the four letters of His name, Havaye. Today the Alter Rebbe explains: Since: a. Our soul was breathed into us by G-d (Havaye). b. One who exhales, does so from within. Then: c. Our soul contains the same 10 faculties that Havaye has (“hamavdil havdolos l’ein…
Inspiration and T’shuva
The Rebbe Rashab explains in the first ma’amer of Samach Vov, that there is a difference between r’usa d’liba (awakening of the heart, inspiration) and t’shuva (return). He explains that the difference lies in the approach. Inspiration is a result of realizing that one is in the presence of something greater, namely G-d, and wanting to be a part of this greater being. T’shuva on the other hand is a result of realizing how far one is from G-d followed…